Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395
Epirrhoe plebeculata
This record describes Epirrhoe plebeculata (species). Recorded family: Geometridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing brown with white lines and dark yellowish or gold bands in AM and PM areas (some specimens all brown); median area darker, sometime blackish; discal spot oval, black; AM line slightly curved, almost straight; PM line irregular but with prominent lobe or double tooth near midpoint; ST line, if present, white, scalloped - hindwing mostly yellow or gold with dark fringe, scalloped blackish terminal line, and dark lines or markings along inner margin Specimens identified by DNA analysis: Subspecies:
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Geometroidea
- Family
- Geometridae (Geometrid Moths)
- Subfamily
- Larentiinae
- Tribe
- Xanthorhoini
- Genus
- Epirrhoe
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
British Columbia to California, east to Nebraska, north to Saskatchewan
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from January to May
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Epirrhoe plebeculata. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Robert H. Biagi
Frequently Asked Questions About Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395
What is Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395?
Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395 (Epirrhoe plebeculata) is a species in the family Geometridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395?
wingspan 19-22 mm (based on four specimens)
How do you identify Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395?
Adult: forewing brown with white lines and dark yellowish or gold bands in AM and PM areas (some specimens all brown); median area darker, sometime blackish; discal spot oval, black; AM line slightly curved, almost straight; PM line irregular but with prominent lobe or double tooth near midpoint; ST line, if present, white, scalloped - hindwing mostly yellow or gold with dark fringe, scalloped blackish terminal line, and dark lines or markings along inner margin Specimens identified by DNA analysis:
Where is Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395 found?
Range: British Columbia to California, east to Nebraska, north to Saskatchewan
When is Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395 active?
Epirrhoe plebeculata - Hodges#7395: seasonal activity - adults fly from January to May.